On 1 November Paul Tetlaw, the Convenor of our Policy Forum and committee member of Capital Rail Action Group, attended one of the demonstration runs of the Vivarail Class 230 Battery EMU train from Glasgow Central to Barrhead and return, as part of COP26.
This is what Paul said about his trip:
The train has a maximum speed of 100km/hr and is converted from a former London Underground D78 electric train. The interior has been completely refurbished and a range of seating options will be available.
On the run to Barrhead through the Glasgow suburban network it wasn’t possible to demonstrate the full potential of the train but it appeared to have good acceleration and was quiet in operation.
The train was subsequently demonstrated running over the Forth Bridge to highlight how bi-mode trains might be introduced in Fife.
It remains to be seen where such converted trains might be appropriate on the Scottish network but as a demonstration of battery technology it certainly worked.
